The challenge is part of Merial’s #CALFMATTERS calf pneumonia vaccination awareness campaign.
In total, the group aims to walk over 70,500 miles and raise £15,000 for Farm Africa, a charity which helps farmers and communities in developing countries by giving the advice and products they need to lift themselves out of poverty.
So far the challengers have covered one fifth of their total target, and completed the equivalent of several iconic distances including the Appalachian Trail, Lands End to John O’Groats, and ‘virtually’ crossed entire countries including Australia, China and Japan.
The participants have committed to the challenge by upping their physical activity. Merial has provided them with Fitbit fitness trackers to record their daily steps, which count towards the virtual teams’ total progress. The goal is 141 million steps in 20 weeks.
Robert Smith MRCVS from Farm First Vets is one of the highest steppers of the group. He recently scaled Ysgyryd Fawr (The Big Skirrid), one of the Black Mountains in Wales’ Brecon Beacons, for the challenge. He said: "I used to think of myself as a coiled spring ready for action, but the steps challenge has forced me to realise there is plenty of scope to increase my activity levels significantly. Hopefully when it is all over I will see the benefits and feel physically fitter for it."
Robert has taken the challenge one step further by encouraging his wife, two daughters, and Farm First Vets practice staff to join him in the challenge, with an added incentive. Between now and the BCVA Congress on 19th October, Farm First Vets will donate £50 to Farm Africa for every member of Robert’s team who completes the #CALFMATTERS challenge. Additionally, for every member of staff that achieves an average of 10,000 or more steps per day, the practice will donate £50 to XL Vets’ and BCVA 50th Anniversary charity, Send a Cow.
If you want to support those taking part in the challenge, you can do so at: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/calfmatters.
The webinar programme includes both clinical and non-clinical topics.
Clinical topics include post mortem/diagnostics and calf pneumonia, parasitology – getting the basics right, and herd health planning – vaccination on farm.
Non-clinical topics include business skills, motivational interviewing techniques – facilitating effective communication between farmers and vets, and cow signals.
Webinars take place on the last Wednesday of each month, except August and December when there are no sessions.
Each webinar lasts for one hour, including a live question and answer session with the presenter. Those who are unable to view the live webinar will be able to access the content at a later date, but will not be able to pose questions.
To access the webinars, you need to register on Merial’s Nexus portal (merialnexus.co.uk). If you sign up in advance for individual webinars, you'll get reminder emails before they start.
Severn Edge was formed six years ago with the merger of two long-standing neighbouring practices, and now employs 135 people, including 43 veterinary surgeons.
Mrs Karyn MacKenzie, Director of CVS’ Practice Division, said: "Severn Edge is an impressive practice with an outstanding leadership team and an ambitious and exciting vision for the future which we share. We are delighted to welcome the team to CVS and look forward to working with them to help them build an even more successful future."
Dr John Brentnall BVSc MRCVS, a Director of Severn Edge, will continue in the role of CVS Regional Director. He said: "It was clear from our early discussions that CVS understood what we are trying to achieve. We have embarked on a significant investment programme, including upgrading our surgery at Madeley outside Telford, and the redevelopment of the site of an additional clinic which we have recently acquired in Craven Arms.
"In order for us to continually upgrade our clinics, provide the widest range of career opportunities for our staff and steer our practice through an increasingly competitive world, we believe that the best interests of us all lie in joining forces with CVS. It is known for its interest in equine and farm practice, as well as companion animal practice, and has a policy of significant investment in both infrastructure and staff. We believe it offers the best fit with Severn Edge."
According to the FSA figures, 24.4% (758,263) of sheep and goats slaughtered between April and June this year had their throats cut without first being made insensible to pain, up from 15% in 2013, when the EU and UK-adopted legislation allowing an exemption for animals that are slaughtered for religious purposes came into force.
The number of chickens slaughtered without pre-stunning rose from 3% in 2013 to 18.5% (45,396,583) in 2017.
The BVA President Gudrun Ravetz said: "This huge increase in the number of sheep, goats and poultry that are not stunned or not stunned effectively before slaughter is a grave concern to our profession. Millions of individual animals are affected, making this a major animal welfare issue.
"The supply of meat from animals that have not been stunned massively outstrips the demand from the communities for which it is intended and is entering the mainstream market unlabelled.
"In the light of these official figures we reiterate our call for all animals to be stunned before slaughter. If slaughter without stunning is still to be permitted, any meat from this source must be clearly labelled and the supply of non-stun products should be matched with demand."
Welfare at slaughter is one of the UK’s most pressing health and welfare concerns for vets, according to the BVA’s latest member survey. The association has long campaigned for the re-introduction of law that guarantees all animals are stunned before slaughter on the grounds of animal welfare. While legislation exists to permit slaughter without pre-stunning, the BVA is calling for any meat or fish from this source to be clearly labelled to enable customers to understand the choice they are making when buying such products.
Photo: © Nevit Dilmen - Own work, Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
At this year’s event, sessions include ‘Backyard pigs – Notifiable Diseases and Zoonosis’, and a discussion on the role of paraprofessionals in the sector led by Simon Hall, APHA’s Director for EU Exit and Trade.
Drop-in Q&A sessions, workshops offering practical advice and guidance on the revalidation process and a strong focus on the Cymorth TB programme in Wales also feature.
The conference programme includes dedicated lecture streams aimed at large animal, small animal and equine practitioners and, with more than 8,000 OVs due to revalidate their qualifications in March 2019, Improve says lecture content has been tailored to cover areas of key relevance for them.
An exhibition of products and services for OV’s runs alongside the conference.
APHA’s recently appointed Veterinary Director, Dr Andrew Soldan (pictured right), said: "Having recently taken on the role of Veterinary Director for APHA, I am very much looking forward to meeting up with our OV’s and exploring some of the key challenges facing us all, as we seek to control animal disease threats at home and from abroad."
David Babington MRCVS, Business Development Director at Improve International, said: "This conference has established itself as an annual fixture in the OV diary and it remains the only event dedicated to their needs. This year’s packed programme will again highlight the growing importance of OV’s, particularly as we look ahead to the post-Brexit era."
For more information on the Official Veterinarian Conference and Exhibition or to register visit: www.officialvet.com
Leading human and animal health organisations – the British Medical Association (BMA), British Dental Association (BDA), British Veterinary Association (BVA) and Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) - have joined forces for the first time to promote a ‘One Health’ approach to ensure responsible guardianship of antibiotics and their proper public use on European Antibiotics Awareness Day tomorrow.
Antibiotics are obviously a vital medicine for both animal and human health, and modern health systems rely on the availability and effectiveness of a range of antimicrobials to treat and prevent infections. Yet inappropriate use – such as prescribing for self-limiting infections, not finishing a prescribed course of antibiotics or habitual prophylactic use in healthy animals to prevent disease - all contribute to the development of resistant bacteria in both humans and animals.
Whilst antibiotic resistance in animals does not perhaps present the greatest immediate existential threat, there is a strong argument for a united message to the public coming from doctors, dentists, chemists and veterinary surgeons.
Quite simply, some 13M households own a pet. Pretty much all of them visit a vet at some stage, and most will be a human patient at some point in their lives. So, what a veterinary surgeon says about the use of antibiotics in animals has the potential to help transform how owners think about them when they come to visit the doctor.
A survey of general practitioner doctors last year found that 90% feel pressured by patients to prescribe antibiotics and 28% have prescribed them several times a week when not sure they are medically necessary. If veterinary surgeons refuse to prescribe them for pets unless medically necessary, explaining that they are a precious resource which can no longer be wasted, it could help relieve the pressure on doctors. The same goes for the importance of compliance; if owners learn the importance of their pet taking the full course, there's a greater chance they'll understand why they need to complete their own course of treatment.
BVA President Sean Wensley said: "Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is too important an issue for uncoordinated approaches amongst the medical professions. We need to work together to share knowledge and successful approaches, as well as taking responsibility for not just the immediate clinical situations before us, but also for our role in supporting the health and wellbeing of wider society. An effective approach to tackling AMR is about professions and patients working together for the greater good."
BMA board of science Chair Professor Sheila the Baroness Hollins said: "Doctors have expressed significant concern about the threat of a ‘post-antimicrobial age’. It is vital that we see action to improve antimicrobial prescribing across all disciplines. Only by different professionals working together to improve antimicrobial stewardship will we start to address this major public health issue."
BDA President Professor Nairn Wilson said: "All health professionals have a responsibility to draw a line under inappropriate or unnecessary use of antibiotics. One in ten prescriptions in the UK are provided by dentists, so we’re determined to do our bit. We are facing a clear and present danger to public health, and it will only be overcome if we act together."
For further information about EAAD 2015, visit www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/EAAD
To mark EAAD 2015, BVA has produced a range of new posters to promote the responsible use of antibiotics for use in veterinary practices or as a source of information for pet owners which can be found on their website www.bva.co.uk/eaad.
Intervet has announced that its bluetongue vaccine, Bovilis® BTV8 has been granted a licence by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). The licence, which is the first for a bluetongue vaccine in the UK, sets out dose rates and treatment regimes for the product use.
The recommended dose rates for animal over one month of age are as follows:
Sheep – 1 x 1ml, injected subcutaneously.
Cattle - 2 x 1ml, approximately three weeks apart, injected subcutaneously.
In successive years, re-vaccination should be given two weeks prior to the risk period.
Treated animals should have protective immunity three weeks after the initial course. Bovilis BTV8 should only be administered to healthy animals. Treated stock may have a slight swelling at the site of injection.
The vaccine must be stored at between 2ºC – 8ºC and, once opened, should be used within eight hours. The vaccine is available in 20ml and 50ml bottles. The licence recommends the use of multi injection vaccination systems.
Intervet will be supplying a discounted 1ml vaccination gun into the market.
Q Fever is caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii, which can infect humans, cattle, goats, sheep and many other mammals, as well as reptiles, ticks and birds.
Known originally as Query fever, it was first identified in Australia in 1935 after an outbreak of disease in abattoir workers.
Ceva says half of UK dairy farms may be at risk of Q Fever1, 2.
The webinar, which will be presented by Jonathan Statham MA VetMB DCHP FRCVS (pictured right), an RCVS-registered specialist in cattle health and co-author of the ‘Dairy Herd Health’ textbook, will count towards 1.5 hours of CPD.
It will cover the UK prevalence of Q Fever in herds, its cause and transmission, together with identification and diagnostics.
It will also look at the variations between livestock species, disease prevention and its risk to humans as a zoonosis.
Jonathan said: "Q Fever is of much higher profile in many other parts of the world such as Australia and has been notifiable for some years with national testing programmes in a number of European countries such as Germany.
“Recently Q Fever has become notifiable in the UK and climate change is changing the future risk profile."
Renzo Di Florio, veterinary advisor at Ceva said: “The disease causes issues with reproduction and fertility and has the potential to have significant impact on livestock health and productivity.
"However, awareness is low amongst the farming industry.
“Our Q Fever webinar will help raise awareness of the disease and the preventative measures that can be put in place to help protect those working with livestock on a regular basis and reduce the impact of Q Fever on farms.
To register for the webinar or if you have further questions, e-mail cevauk-webinars@ceva.com
References
The Westpoint Veterinary Group and Eville & Jones, a veterinary control provider, have joined forces to form Xperior Farm Health, which will bid for appointment as a Delivery Partner for bovine TB and other farm animal disease testing under AHVLA's Veterinary Delivery Partnership Programme.
The Delivery Partnership Programme, under which the AHVLA will cease to contract OVs directly and instead procure disease testing services from around ten Delivery Partners, is expected to roll out in the summer.
Eville & Jones is an experienced service provider in inspection and testing services in the fields of animal health, public health and animal welfare. The company employs more than 450 veterinary staff nationwide and already provides fully managed Official Veterinarian (OV) services to UK Competent Authorities.
Westpoint Veterinary Group is a specialist, farm-animal-only veterinary practice operating from 17 sites countrywide to provide farmers with specialist and locally based services. It is the largest veterinary group in the UK specialising in production animals, employing more than 50 veterinary surgeons.
Veterinary Director Phil Elkins MRCVS says the resources and experience of the two parent companies in both farmer-facing and back office dimensions make Xperior Farm Health well equipped to fulfil a Delivery Partner service expected by AHVLA. He said: "Our ambition is to provide an exemplary standard of accurate and trustworthy on-farm animal health testing services, where possible using subcontracted practices. If appointed, of course, these will be farmer friendly, provide an ongoing source of work and revenue to subcontractor Official Veterinarians, and represent excellent value for money to the taxpayer."
Novartis Animal Health has published a product usage chart aimed at vets and SQPs that gives guidance on the use of ectoparasites through the seasons.
The chart covers the use of blowfly preventatives CLiK and CLiKZiN, and the blowfly strike treatment Crovect, which also covers ticks, biting lice, headfly and fly maggots.
There is advice on the treatment of pre- and post-shearing ewes, and early season and main season lambs, plus recommendations for end of season treatments.
Helen Langham, Brand Manager at Novartis Animal Health, said: "The chart is designed to provide an overview of the ectoparasite challenges faced by sheep and lambs through the year, and explain which products should be applied and when.
"SQPs can download the chart and a full range of information about ectoparasites from the Novartis Farm Animal Health website."
The chart can be downloaded from www.farmanimalhealth.co.uk
Over the next few weeks, experts from the fields of veterinary science, academia and government will be offering sector-specific insight into key achievements, latest research and future action needed to tackle AMR through a number of blog posts published on www.bva.co.uk/BVA-blog.
Bloggers will include BVA President John Fishwick, presidents of several BVA specialist divisions, leading academics, and heads of the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (RUMA) and the National Office of Animal Health (NOAH), among others.
AMR poses a global threat to human and animal health and requires concerted efforts across the medical and veterinary professions to steward responsible use and prescription, as recognised in the UK Government-commission global Review on Antimicrobial Resistance, chaired by Lord O’Neill (May 2016).
The veterinary profession in the UK has been committed to the responsible use of antimicrobials, with the Chief Medical Officer publicly recognising the concerted efforts to reduce antibiotic usage in agriculture. BVA is a member of RUMA and has been working closely with stakeholders in government and industry to develop appropriate and evidence based targets across the livestock sector, which will be announced tomorrow (27 October) at a conference in London.
British Veterinary Association Senior Vice President Gudrun Ravetz said: "AMR is a serious global One Health issue that the veterinary profession is deeply concerned about, as it threatens our ability to treat animals and protect human health, and it is an issue BVA is addressing through joined-up working with UK governments, industry and other health sectors. Increased collaboration between the health sectors, underpinned by a commitment from each of us within the veterinary profession to maintain the highest standards of stewardship in using antimicrobials, most especially Critically Important Antibiotics, is the only way we can preserve these essential medicines for future generations.
"The blog series highlights various aspects of AMR by experts in their field, and we hope that throwing a spotlight on various sectors’ achievements so far and suggested steps for the future will help keep this important issue on all of our agendas, where it should be."
AMR discussions will continue at BVA Congress at the London Vet Show (16-17 November) with a Friday afternoon session on ‘The psychology of antimicrobial resistance: what can social science tell us?’, featuring David Brodbelt, Professor of Evidence-based Veterinary Medicine at Royal Veterinary College; Ian Donald,Emeritus Professor of Psychology and Director, Mulberry Research & Consulting Ltd, and Kristen Reyher, Senior Lecturer in Farm Animal Science at the University of Bristol.
To read Nigel Gibbens’s blog and other blogs from the series, see https://www.bva.co.uk/news-campaigns-and-policy/bva-community/bva-blog/safeguarding-the-future-of-antibiotics-is-our-moral-responsibility-as-vets/ and follow the ‘#AMRinfocus’ hashtag on social media.
Boehringer Ingelheim is offering a free stainless steel bolus applicators, worth £42.60/€ 59.39 (plus VAT), with the first 1,000 Bovikalc multipacks sold after 1st March in the UK and Eire.
According to the company, milk fever is recognised as the most common mineral deficiency affecting transition cows; one that has a significant impact on the overall health of affected animals, even those showing no outward symptoms. This offer aims to help combat this costly but preventable disease.
The offer is open to farmers, vets and suppliers of Bovikalc and one free applicator will be provided for each Bovikalc multipack - 6 x 4 boluses.
Farmers are required to apply for the free applicators through their veterinary surgeon or Bovikalc supplier.
For further information, including the terms and conditions of the offer, visit www.bovikalc.co.uk. Alternatively, contact your regional cattle specialist or call Boehringer on 01344 746959.
The Farm Vet Champions initiative has been set up to build a supportive community of farm animal veterinary professionals to collaborate in championing good antibiotic principles.
Led by RCVS Knowledge and funded by the VMD, the project has brought together a number of UK veterinary and agriculture organisations to develop free learning materials for farm veterinary professionals.
The new online course covers:
A course offers a total of 20 hours of free on-demand CPD.
The second phase of the initiative, due to start development over Summer 2021, will provide online and in-person networking opportunities for Farm Vet Champions to learn from one another by sharing their experiences and working together towards the common goal of good antibiotic stewardship.
Chris Gush, Executive Director of RCVS Knowledge, said, “With antimicrobial resistance being one of the top 10 health threats facing our planet, we are delighted with the quality of the Farm Vet Champions course and we look forward to connecting with farm vets across the UK to tackle AMR. Farm Vet Champions is just the beginning of our work in antimicrobial prescribing, and we look forward to building on our resources that will benefit all animals, the public and society.”
Fiona Lovatt, Farm Vet Champions Clinical Lead, said, “I am incredibly proud of the Farm Vet Champions project and extremely grateful to every member of our steering group who have been instrumental in the creation of high-quality and engaging learning materials. I encourage all UK farm vets to sign up and join us on the journey to tackle AMR.”
Farm Vet Champions can be accessed for free at https://learn.rcvsknowledge.org/
The researchers say that when veterinary surgeons give advice to clients with the aim of changing their behaviour - such as encouraging them to feed their pet differently - they often speak in a directive style, which is driven by a paternalistic-type relationship.
This, they say, reduces a client’s sense of emotional connection to their vet, whilst limiting their personal choice and self-direction in the decision-making process. This consultation method, combined with its conflict with these basic motivational drives, may contribute to why low uptake of veterinary recommendations are reported throughout the profession.
One solution could be the use of evidence-based communication approaches that have been tried and tested in the medical profession.
Alison Bard, PhD researcher at the School of Veterinary Sciences, said: "Veterinarians are working hard to connect with their clients and promote the health of animals in their care, but being a veterinarian is not just about communicating science and methodology. Communication must also inspire motivation, prompt action and boost confidence for an animal carer to put veterinary advice into practice.
"The problem our research identified is that the perceived role of the veterinarian - to provide advice and solutions – leads to a personal communication style that leaves little room for empathy or client input. This style comes at a high cost for client engagement with advice, as we know from wider research that relational interaction and active participation of clients is essential for inspiring a change in behaviour. For the typical veterinarian, this may be surprising, as the clinical accuracy and relevance of advice has traditionally (and intuitively) been the focus of advisory services."
The research team believes a shift in veterinary surgeons' perceptions of advisory consultations is needed to improve the uptake of advice.
Alison added: "As a profession, veterinarians can benefit from recognising that behaviour change is incredibly complex. Being provided with the ‘right’ advice is not always enough for clients to put veterinary recommendations into action, especially where disease management is complicated and clients have mixed feelings over treatment options. How information is communicated in these cases affects client outcomes, meaning the difference between a motivated and unmotivated client can - in fact - be shaped by the veterinarian."
The research team hopes that this study will help veterinary surgeons think differently about their consultations by encouraging them to consider how their communication may be influencing client motivation and behaviour. As a result, they hope veterinarians will think carefully before using labels like ‘unmotivated’ or ‘resistant to advice’, and instead explore whether their clients are perhaps just in need of emotional support, personal choice or a sense of self-confidence to truly engage with veterinary recommendations.
This call for change in the veterinary profession is already underway as a result of the VetFutures project, launched in 2015. This project called for a change in veterinary consultation style: away from a hierarchical model with the veterinary surgeon as the expert passing on instruction, to a model centred on partnership to create empowered and motivated clients.
Bristol’s research will inform this focus of the VetFutures project, and this study provides further evidence about the consequences of paternalistic communication on motivation and behaviour change in veterinary clients.
Dr Kristen Reyher, Senior Lecturer in Farm Animal Science, said: "This paper is one element of an exciting research project that will help inform and support our evolving veterinary profession. I’m confident that change can be achieved with the help of ongoing research. Our interdisciplinary work is focused on whether Motivational Interviewing - an evidence-based communication method that fosters a mutualistic approach to conversations on behaviour change - can deliver the advances VetFutures imagine for our colleagues of the future.
"We look forward to providing further evidence to contribute to a professional shift that will enhance the experience and wellbeing of veterinarians, clients and the animals in their care."
Reference
CEVA Animal Health is giving away a key ring torch with every three bottles of Rehydion gel®, its product for scouring calves.CEVA says the deal is to highlight the fact that Rehydion gel® is currently the only oral rehydration treatment that can be added to milk, with guaranteed milk clotting. According to the company, Rehydion gel® has faster, guaranteed milk clotting and helps to maintain a low abomasal pH. Its high palatability and efficient dilution in milk allows weight gain to continue, even in cases of severe scour. It also has a high Strong Ion Difference (SID) which effectively suppresses acidosis. Rehydion gel® is fast to mix by simply shaking the hand-held bottle. Rehydion gel's® consistency means that precise doses of alkalinising agents and electrolytes can be squeeze-delivered with ease. In beef systems the product is time-saving, convenient and minimises stress as it can be given neat, meaning there is need for the calf to be separated from its dam. One bottle provides enough for eight, two-litre calf feeds or 160 feeds for lambs. The distinctive yellow top also acts as a handy measuring cap.
Further information and product literature is available from Martin Gough on 01494 781510.
BCF Technology has published a new clinical guide to the non-reproductive applications of ultrasound in farm animals.
Kimberly Palgrave BS BVM&S, created the booklet with the aim of helping veterinary surgeons understand the value in using ultrasound for more than reproduction purposes.
BCF says On farm ultrasound uses: Beyond pregnancy diagnosis provides key clinical descriptions and tips, along with normal and abnormal ultrasound images to show how ultrasound can aid in diagnosing various on-farm conditions you may be presented with, such as scanning the teat to detect stenosis, the umbilical area for an abscess, and even the thorax for help to diagnose BRD.
Kimberly said: "This clinical guide was created to help vets get more out of on farm ultrasound than just pregnancy diagnosis. There are a range of other uses for ultrasound on farm and this guide explains how to use your equipment for these applications. As always we are happy to receive feedback on any of our clinical materials."
To find out more or to get your copy of the guide, visit the learning section of the BCF website: www.bcftechnology.com
Eurovet Animal Health has launched a new product, Bovocycline 2000 mg pessary for cattle.
Bovocycline 2000 is the only veterinary licenced antibiotic pessary for the treatment of retained foetal membranes in cattle. It is licenced for the treatment of post parturient disorders in cattle, for administration after dystocia, retained foetal membranes (RFMs) and endometritis.
According to Eurovet, the incidence of retained foetal membranes in cows varies from zero to 25 per cent, but the average is around 4 per cent in most herds. RFMs result in reduced cow fertility and a higher risk of culling due to poor fertility. Pessaries are still considered the preferred treatment for vulval discharges in cattle by farmers.
Ruth Vernon, Technical Services Manager for Eurovet said: "The control of post partum problems in cattle is rarely straight forward, but it is great to have a veterinary licensed treatment designed specifically for this purpose, in one pessary that contains 2000mgs tetracycline".
For more information please contact Eurovet Animal Health. Tel: 01223 257933. E-mail: office@eurovet-ah.co.uk www.eurovet-ah.co.uk
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) have announced that today marks the declaration of the eradication of rinderpest, one of the world's most dreaded animal diseases.
The BVA likened this announcement in the history of animal health to that of the eradication of smallpox in humans.
The announcement came during the 79th General Session of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), held in Paris. The global freedom status will be ratified by Ministers of Agriculture at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) conference in June.
Rinderpest, also known as cattle plague, has ravaged cattle and the human populations that depend on them throughout history. It was rinderpest that led to the formation of the OIE in 1924 following a new incursion of the rinderpest virus in Europe, via the port of Antwerp.
Dr Peter Roeder, who was Secretary of the Global Rinderpest Eradication Programme from 2000 to 2007, said: "Once a dream, rinderpest eradication is now a reality. Not only does this magnificent achievement help to protect the livelihoods of many millions of livestock-dependent farmers but, because it removes a serious constraint to livestock trade, it has a major positive impact on many countries' economies. If we can truly learn the lessons from rinderpest eradication there is no reason why we couldn't see other diseases brought to global extinction with similar pro-poor and economic impact."
BVA President Harvey Locke added: "This monumental achievement testifies to the dedication of the veterinary services of affected countries and illustrates how vets and veterinary science can have a global impact. With that in mind I am absolutely delighted that Dr Roeder will be presenting the plenary Wooldridge Memorial Lecture at this year's BVA Annual Congress. Entitled 'Making a global Impact' Dr Roeder will discuss how vets can contribute to disease control on a global scale.
"I should also like to pay tribute to two British veterinary surgeons who made seminal contributions to the global effort to eradicate rinderpest. Gordon Scott, a rinderpest researcher, and Walter Plowright who developed the tissue culture rinderpest vaccine, were both leading lights of the rinderpest eradication effort. Sadly they are no longer with us to witness this milestone in veterinary history."
As part of the BVA's celebration of World Veterinary Year Vet2011 and to further illustrate how vets and veterinary science can have a global impact the Overseas Group is organising on Friday 23 September a full day's programme at BVA Congress: exploring current issues concerning livestock and global food security, veterinary involvement in disaster relief and management, as well as a session celebrating 100 BVA overseas travel grants.
Photograph: Rinderpest virus, copyright held by dr. Rajnish Kaushik
Bayer is highlighting a new study which, the company says, proves that a 'metaphylactic' treatment approach to coccidiosis - when the animal has been infected, but before the disease has had chance to take hold - produces the best long term results1.
The research spanned a two year period where heifer calves on two farms that had previously experienced problems with naturally acquired coccidiosis, were divided into two groups. One group was treated with Baycox and one group remained untreated. The calves were then monitored for two years to gather the long term results following the coccidiosis treatment.
Sharon Cooksey BVSc, MRCVS, Bayer Animal Health Group Product Manager said: "The results demonstrated that treatment with Baycox at the right time significantly reduced the average age to first service by 24 days in comparison with the non-treated control group.
"Other key long term benefits following treatment included positive effects on certain fertility parameters, including overall pregnancy rate, the first service conception rate and average services per conception as well as a significant reduction in oocyst shedding in the treatment group."
Sharon says the take home message of the new research is the paramount importance of getting treatment right at the right time, before coccidiosis develops and causes any long term implications: "The positive impact on heifer development from correct subclinical coccidiosis treatment is clear to see in this research, with the reduction of days to first service alone being a powerful reason for farmers to seek veterinary advice."
Bayer Animal Health has launched Baytril® Max 100mg/ml Solution for Injection for Cattle and Pigs, which replaces the company's previously animal-specific Baytril Max products.
Bayer says the active ingredient, enrofloxacin, treats bacterial infection by inhibiting the action of bacterial DNA gyrase resulting in bacterial cell death.
In cattle, Baytril Max treats respiratory infections and mastitis caused by enrofloxacin-sensitive Histophilus somni, Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida and Mycoplasma spp., and enrofloxacin-sensitive E. coli respectively.
In pigs, Baytril Max targets bacterial bronchopneumonia caused by enrofloxacin-sensitive Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Pasteurella multocida and complicated by Haemophilus parasuis as a secondary pathogen in pigs.
Bayer advises that vets treating cattle for respiratory infections should inject subcutaneously. Mastitis cases should be treated intravenously and pigs should be injected intramuscularly in the neck muscles, behind the ear.
The development of the Baytril Max product family provides vets with greater treatment flexibility from one solution.
For further information please visit www.noahcompendium.co.uk
Defra has today published reports from the Health and SafetyExecutive and Professor Brian Spratt, of Imperial College London,into the recent outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in Surrey. The report is available here.
MSD says Lawsonia intracellularis is found on many finishing farms throughout the UK, and can affect weight gains, feed conversion ratios (FCR) and lead to increased mortality.
The new vaccine means that if piglets are vaccinated at three weeks, they will be protected against the bacteria from seven weeks.
Rubén Del Pozo Sacristán, technical manager for pigs at MSD Animal Health, said "Lawsonia intracellularis is present on most UK farms and can hamper a farm’s true potential as it spreads rapidly in faeces and on people or rodents, but symptoms can be hard to identify, as they’re often similar to many other diseases.
"Acute forms are often noticeable with symptoms such as diarrhoea or an increase in mortality, but the subclinical form, which is most common, can be hard to identify. Diarrhoea is not always present and often indicators are an increase in FCR and a reduction in weight gain leading to variation in pig performance, but this is similar to many other health issues.
"Administering an intramuscular vaccination will ensure every animal receives the correct dose, compared to other administrative routes. Porcilis Lawsonia can help reduce the clinical signs, production losses and mortality caused by Ileitis."
For more information on Porcilis Lawsonia, refer to the SPC sheet.
Merial Animal Health has announced the first delivery of its bluetongue vaccine, BTVPURTM AlSap, in the UK. The shipment of just over 2 million doses is the first of several batches scheduled over the summer months and forms part of Merial's commitment to Defra to supply 13 million doses for England and Wales. Despite bluetongue disease not yet re-emerging in the UK this year, Merial strongly encourages farmers to protect their livestock from this potentially debilitating disease. Head of Production Animal Business, Graham Davenport said: "Our experience in continental Europe over the past four years has shown just how imperative vaccination is for vets and farmers in controlling this disease in the field. Recent outbreaks in France are a reminder that there is no room for complacency. Over the past few weeks we have been working closely with the members of JAB (Joint Action against Bluetongue) and strongly advocate that farmers should act on their advice: Don't hesitate, vaccinate."Information for veterinary professionals and livestock owners on BTVPUR AlSap can be found at www.merial.co.uk. Veterinary surgeons can also obtain information by calling 0800 592699 or emailing ukbluetongue@merial.com.
New research published in Epidemiology and Infection (Cambridge University Press) reveals that direct contact between badgers and cattle is rare, suggesting that it may be rare for bovine tuberculosis (TB) to be passed on through the two species meeting each other on pasture.
For the research, which was conducted by the Royal Veterinary College and the Food and Environment Research Agency, researchers investigated direct and indirect interactions between badgers and cattle by fitting automated high-tech proximity loggers to animals and placing base stations at badger latrines located on pasture, in an area of south-west England with a high-density badger population, over a period of 12-months.
Direct interactions (within 1.4 metres) between badgers and cows at pasture were very rare, with only four out of over 500,000 animal-to-animal contacts recorded between the two species.
Indirect interactions (visits to badger latrines) were far more frequent than direct contacts, with 400 visits by badgers and 1700 visits by cattle recorded. This suggests that indirect contacts might be more important than direct in terms of disease transmission at pasture.
During the study half of the badgers tested positive for TB, however the infection status of individual badgers did not affect the frequency or duration of their visits to latrines located on pasture grazed by cattle.
Bovine tuberculosis caused by infection with Mycobacterium bovis is endemic in cattle in parts of England and Wales and its control is hindered by the presence of infection in the European badger. While M. bovis is clearly transmitted between cattle and badgers, it is has not previously been known where, when or how often transmission occurs.
Dr Julian Drewe from the Royal Veterinary College who led the study, said: "Our findings reveal that direct contacts between badgers and cattle at pasture are surprisingly rare, despite ample opportunity for interactions to occur, suggesting that the two species may be ignoring or even actively avoiding one another. The study was conducted in an area with a high badger population, so it is likely that such direct contact will be even less frequent in areas of the country where there are fewer badgers.
"Indirect visits by both species to badger latrines were significantly more common than direct contacts between badgers and cattle, which suggests that these represent the more typical nature of interspecies contact. Future research aiming to quantify TB risk to cattle from badgers might be best to focus on indirect contacts occurring at latrines and on contacts occurring away from pasture, for example in farm buildings.
"This clearly has disease management implications, and more work is now needed in this area to look at how such contact can be limited, to reduce the number of cases of bovine TB in the future."
Hipra, a veterinary pharmaceutical company with subsidiaries in 19 countries, has opened in the UK and launched Eficur (ceftiofur hydrochloride).
Eficur is a ready to use injectable suspension for the treatment of bacterial respiratory disease associated with Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida and Histhophillus Somni in cattle and additionally Actinobacillus pleuropneumonia, Streptococcus suis and others in swine.
Eficur is also licensed for the treatment of acute interdigital necrobacillosis (panaritium, foot rot) and the bacterial component of acute post-partum (puerperal) metritis in cattle.
Eficur is available in a presentation of 50 ml, 100 ml and 250 ml. The 250 ml presentation also includes an innovative unbreakable protector.
For further information please contact: Hipra UK on 0115 812 0499 or uk@hipra.com, or visit www.hipra.com